Box Score

 

DENVER (81)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
N Tskitishvili      28   1-5   0-0   1-4   3   1    3
J Howard            24  6-10   4-4   1-3   1   2   16
N Hilario           30   5-9   2-3   2-7   1   6   12
L Harrington        23   1-2   0-0   0-1   2   3    2
R Bowen              8   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
S Williams          30   1-4   2-2   0-1   4   3    4
V Yarbrough         17   3-4   4-4   0-2   1   4   10
M Camby             21   3-9   4-8   3-5   2   3   10
D Harvey            10   3-4   0-0   0-1   0   1    6
C Andersen          19   2-4   0-2   1-2   1   5    4
R White             22  4-11   4-5   1-3   2   2   12
P Savovic            8   0-2   2-4   0-2   1   2    2
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 29-64 22-32  9-31  18  32   81
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.453, FT-.688. 3-Point Goals:
1-5, .200 (N Tskitishvili 1-4, S Williams 
0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:3 (C 
Andersen 2, M Camby). Turnovers:24 (S 
Williams 4, V Yarbrough 3, N Hilario 3, L 
Harrington 3, J Howard 2, M Camby 2, R White 
2, C Andersen 2, R Bowen, N Tskitishvili, D 
Harvey). Steals: 10 (N Hilario 3, L 
Harrington 2, S Williams, R White, P Savovic,
C Andersen, V Yarbrough).


UTAH (99)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
M Harpring          33  9-11   1-2   3-4   4   3   22
K Malone            34  4-10 10-14   0-6   9   1   18
G Ostertag          18   1-4   2-2   1-4   0   3    4
J Stockton          22   3-5   6-7   1-1   6   2   12
C Cheaney           40   6-9   0-0   0-5   2   5   12
M Jackson           22   1-6   3-4   0-3   3   0    5
T Massenburg        19   4-5   1-2   2-4   0   6    9
A Kirilenko         20   3-7   0-0   1-3   3   3    6
S Padgett           17   3-4   2-2   0-5   0   3    8
D Stevenson         10   1-4   1-4   1-1   0   2    3
J Amaechi            1   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
C Arroyo             4   0-2   0-0   0-0   2   1    0
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 35-67 26-37  9-36  29  29   99
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.522, FT-.703. 3-Point Goals:
3-7, .429 (M Harpring 3-3, C Cheaney 0-1, M 
Jackson 0-1, A Kirilenko 0-1, S Padgett 0-1).
Team Rebounds: 13. Blocked Shots:6 (G 
Ostertag 3, A Kirilenko 3). Turnovers:20 (J 
Stockton 5, C Cheaney 3, M Jackson 3, K 
Malone 2, M Harpring 2, T Massenburg, S 
Padgett, D Stevenson, A Kirilenko, G 
Ostertag). Steals: 13 (K Malone 5, C Cheaney 
4, M Harpring 2, J Stockton, M Jackson).

-------------------------------------------
DENVER               16  22  21  22   -  81
UTAH                 27  25  28  19   -  99
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Denver - 2 (D Harvey 2 
(ejected), 4:07 2nd; D Harvey, 4:26 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 17,651. T: 2:19. 
Officials: Derek Richardson, Jack Nies, Leon 
Wood.

Extended Box

 

DENVER (81) AT UTAH (99)

DENVER

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
N TSKITISHVILI    F    28    1-5      0-0      1   3   4    3   1   0   1    3
J HOWARD          F    24    6-10     4-4      1   2   3    1   2   0   2   16
N HILARIO         C    30    5-9      2-3      2   5   7    1   6   3   3   12
L HARRINGTON      G    23    1-2      0-0      0   1   1    2   3   2   3    2
R BOWEN           G     8    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   1    0
S WILLIAMS             30    1-4      2-2      0   1   1    4   3   1   4    4
V YARBROUGH            17    3-4      4-4      0   2   2    1   4   1   3   10
M CAMBY                21    3-9      4-8      3   2   5    2   3   0   2   10
D HARVEY               10    3-4      0-0      0   1   1    0   1   0   1    6
C ANDERSEN             19    2-4      0-2      1   1   2    1   5   1   2    4
R WHITE                22    4-11     4-5      1   2   3    2   2   1   2   12
P SAVOVIC               8    0-2      2-4      0   2   2    1   2   1   0    2
  
TOTALS                240   29-64    22-32     9  22  31   18  32  10  24   81
                            (.453)  (.688)  TEAM REBS:  8 TOTAL TO: 24 (26 PTS)    

UTAH

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
M HARPRING        F    33    9-11     1-2      3   1   4    4   3   2   2   22
K MALONE          F    34    4-10    10-14     0   6   6    9   1   5   2   18
G OSTERTAG        C    18    1-4      2-2      1   3   4    0   3   0   1    4
J STOCKTON        G    22    3-5      6-7      1   0   1    6   2   1   5   12
C CHEANEY         G    40    6-9      0-0      0   5   5    2   5   4   3   12
M JACKSON              22    1-6      3-4      0   3   3    3   0   1   3    5
T MASSENBURG           19    4-5      1-2      2   2   4    0   6   0   1    9
A KIRILENKO            20    3-7      0-0      1   2   3    3   3   0   1    6
S PADGETT              17    3-4      2-2      0   5   5    0   3   0   1    8
D STEVENSON            10    1-4      1-4      1   0   1    0   2   0   1    3
J AMAECHI               1    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   0    0
C ARROYO                4    0-2      0-0      0   0   0    2   1   0   0    0
  
TOTALS                240   35-67    26-37     9  27  36   29  29  13  20   99
                            (.522)  (.703)  TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 22 (19 PTS)    
  
   DENVER             16   22   21   22   -   81
   UTAH               27   25   28   19   -   99
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: DENVER - C ANDERSEN 2, M CAMBY.  UTAH - G OSTERTAG 3,
A KIRILENKO 3.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DENVER 1-5 (.200), N TSKITISHVILI 1-4, S WILLIAMS 0-
1. UTAH 3-7 (.429), M HARPRING 3-3, C CHEANEY 0-1, M JACKSON 0-1, A KIRILENKO 0-
1, S PADGETT 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - D HARVEY 2 (EJECTED) 2.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DEREK RICHARDSON, JACK NIES, LEON WOOD.
A - 17,651. T - 2:19.

Game Story

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Coming off a loss to the NBA's 
worst team, the Utah Jazz made sure they didn't falter against
the second-worst, especially at home.

Matt Harpring scored 22 points and Karl Malone added 18 as the
Jazz posted their 14th straight home victory over the Denver
Nuggets, 99-81.

John Stockton and Calbert Cheaney each contributed 12 points for
Utah, which was coming off Sunday's embarrassing 27-point loss
at Cleveland and had dropped two in a row.

"At this point in the season, it's tough because you're a little
worn down and teams are fighting for playoff position, so
everybody is playing hard," Jazz forward Tony Massenburg said.
"Teams that are not in the playoffs are basically just out there
to disrupt your entire flow as far as what you're trying to do
and where you're trying to be at the end of the season."

The Jazz have not lost to Denver at the Delta Center since a
124-119 setback on December 7, 1995.  They are 52-9 at home
against the Nuggets over the last 24 years but swept the season
series for the first time since 1997-98.

Harpring shot 9-of-11 from the field, making all three of his
3-point attempts.  Malone did most of his damage from the line,
converting 10-of-14 free throws.

Malone, who sat out the final 10:20, also handed out nine
assists to become just the second player in NBA history to
record 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar is the only other player to do it.

Utah is in seventh place in the Western Conference, 2 1/2 games
ahead of Houston and Phoenix.  The Jazz visit Phoenix on
Thursday.

"I think you people need to realize that if we don't get our
stuff together, we could miss the playoffs," Malone said.
"We've got 15 games left and if we doze off, we could miss the
playoffs, which would be embarrassing.  We'll see what happens."

Juwan Howard led Denver with 16 points and rookie Nene Hilario
and Rodney White had 12 apiece.  The Nuggets have dropped 17 of
their past 19 games.

"We played a physical veteran team that was desperate for a
win," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "They're trying to stay in
the playoff race and this was a great lesson for our young
basketball team, (a lesson) on what it's like emotionally and
physically against a team that has been there before."

Utah scored the first 13 points and rarely appeared threatened.

"We got off to a really good start in the first quarter and were
pretty much able to sustain it for much of the game, but they
play so hard," Cheaney said. "They never give up, so you really
got to stay on your P's and Q's when you play them."

The Jazz had an 11-point advantage after the first quarter and
led, 52-38, at halftime.  The margin never dipped below 12 in
the third quarter and Utah took its largest lead at 84-59 on two
free throws by Scott Padgett with 10:20 left in the final
period.

"We executed really well, got layups, got tremendous shots
within the offense, and when you do that, the game is so much
easier," Cheaney said.  "When we execute like that, a lot of
guys will be in double figures every night."

Utah shot 59 percent (19-of-32) from the field in the first half
and 52 percent (35-of-67) overall.  The Jazz had a 36-31
rebounding edge and scored 26 points off Denver's 24 turnovers.

"I thought we lost a couple of opportunities the last couple of
games because of our offense," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said.  "I
thought we set much better screens and tried to defend a little
better.  We had some moments when we got kind of casual. I
didn't think we finished very strong.  If we don't realize what
we are doing, then it is mashed potatoes out there."

Rookie Vincent Yarbrough and Marcus Camby each chipped in 10
points for the Nuggets, who shot 45 percent (29-of-64).  They
attempted just five 3-pointers, making one.